DAYTON, Ohio (AP) North Dakota State is one of the best free-throw shooting teams in the country, and that's what it came down to at the end of the Bison's First Four win over North Carolina Central.

Vinnie Shahid sank three foul shots in the last 8 seconds to secure the 78-74 win on Wednesday night for North Dakota State, which now moves on to play East Region No. 1 seed Duke on Friday in Columbia, South Carolina.

"I thought that was key to make free throws, something that we've pretty much done all year," coach David Richman said. "Again, when it's this time of year, it's going to come down to possession here, possession there and those free throws. Every one of them is crucial."